Parks Old Style Bar-B-Q was founded in May, 1964 by Edward "Terry" Parks, a former postal worker and entrepreneur and Verna Parks, a Detroit Public Schools counselor, as a sole proprietorship. The Company was incorporated in November, 1977. The Parks' purchased the property at 500 Custer St. and built the building that is now known as 7444 Beaubien St. The building has been enlarged and evolved into its current configuration. The senior Parks' were joined in the business by their two sons, Roderick and Phillip, and a dedicated staff, who followed "Terry" from Youngs' Bar-B-Q, all of whom worked tirelessly to push the fledgling business forward.